Chance Meeting Draws Juan Manuel Correa into INDY NXT

Fox Sports

2 days ago

INDYCAR
Juan Manuel Correa is a great example of how timing and relationships can shape opportunities in motorsport.
Correa was at Barber Motorsports Park during the race weekend May 1-4, not to race, but to coach a driver in USF Juniors. That weekend also featured NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone events.
While at the track, Correa reconnected with Mike Maurini, president of HMD Motorsports. The two have a prior relationship through Maurini's personal business, RTD Media & Management.
'I was literally coming out of the bathroom on my scooter, I crossed Mike (Maurini), and Mike and I go back a long way, karting days here in the U.S., and he's like, 'Hey, what are you doing here?'' Correa said. 'I was like, 'Not much.' He's like, 'You want to drive INDY NXT?' I was like, 'Yeah, let's do it.'
'It was within 24 hours that we had signed a contract, I did my medicals, and I was on my way to Indy for the GP.'
Correa wasted no time making an impact during his unexpected entry into the INDY NXT field. In his series debut driving the No. 39 HMD Motorsports entry on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, he finished 21st and 14th, respectively, in the doubleheader.
The Detroit Grand Prix on June 1 was his third career start. Correa finished third, earning his first podium on a notoriously demanding street circuit, all without any prior testing in the car.
'Everything is different, but at the same time, to drive a race car fast, there's only one way to do it,' Correa said.
He's adapting by using teammate Caio Collet's setups while learning the nuances of the Dallara chassis used in INDY NXT compared to his time in FIA Formula 3, FIA Formula 2 and endurance racing. He finished fifth in the 12 Hours of Sebring sports car race in March, driving for United Autosport.
'Hopefully with a little bit more time, I can start building something that suits me a little bit better, but at the moment I feel pretty good with the car, and I think we'll be competitive for the rest of the year, and we're looking forward to that,' he said.
What sets Correa apart is not just his speed, but his mental toughness. He's a survivor of a devastating 2019 F2 crash in Belgium that nearly ended his life. Correa was in a coma, underwent a 17-hour leg surgery and had to learn to walk again.
Correa rebuilt his career step by step and returned to racing in 2021. Despite having no plans to race in INDY NXT this season, just over a month ago, Correa has a clear target.
'INDY NXT was not my plan,' Correa said. 'Four weeks ago, I was not going to be here. I was going to be coaching throughout the season and trying to find a drive next year somewhere. The opportunity just came, and I took it, and I'm glad I did.
'I've been following INDYCAR for as long as I've been following F1, to be honest. I just took the European route because certain things in my career kind of drove me that way. But now that I'm here, yeah, (the NTT INDYCAR SERIES) is the ultimate goal. It's an amazing series, and this is the place to be if we want to go.'
Correa and his INDY NXT by Firestone competitors return to the track next weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. The race airs at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, June 15 on FS1 and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
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